Every so often a box leaves our shop that isn't headed to one of our own customers. It's headed to a friend's studio, where it turns into something we could never make on our own.

My friend Ellen C. Lyner runs The Copper Mare. She has been an artist and designer for more than 45 years, and these days she spends her time on what she loves most: painting animals. My sons and I build the wooden boxes, and Ellen turns them into hand-painted pet portrait urns that look just like the dog or cat they were made for.

Why a portrait changes everything

Saying goodbye to a pet is hard. A plain box holds the ashes, but a portrait helps hold the memory. Ellen paints each pet by hand from your photos, so the urn sits on the shelf like a little piece of them. As she puts it on her site, it's more than an urn. It's a way to tell the story of the life you shared.

She paints dog memorials and cat memorials too. If you've been looking for a dog urn or a cat urn that feels personal and not like it came from a catalog, her work is worth a look.

How the boxes come together

We build Ellen the blank boxes here in our Murfreesboro shop, and then she does her magic. She offers two styles of pet memorial box, and each one can sit flat or stand on end like a framed portrait on a shelf.

She also offers some thoughtful extras you can add:

• A photo panel inside the box to hold even more memories
• A brass name plate on the front
• A collar mount
• A handmade matching bag for the ashes

You can see examples of all of these on her pet urns and memorials page.

More than memorials

Ellen paints on more than urns. She does pastel pet portraits, portrait platters, stools, story boards, coat and leash racks, jewelry boxes and even a hand-painted tea box. If someone you love is an animal person, there's a gift in there for them.

One practical note from her site: her normal turnaround is about 8 weeks, and larger pieces can take up to 12. If you're thinking about a memorial or a gift for a date, reach out early.

Why we're sharing this

We're a small family shop, and we know how much it means when someone points a friend your way. Ellen's work is beautiful, and we're proud that our boxes are part of it. When she paints a portrait on one of our boxes, it becomes a keepsake a family will pass down.

If you want a pet memorial box with your own pet's face painted on it, please visit Ellen and browse her custom pet urns and memorial boxes. And if you'd rather have a name, date or message engraved, we're always happy to help with that here.

Thank you for letting us share a friend.